Dawn of the Monsters Reviews
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Yes, there is a roar button. It is never not fun. What do you want from a kaiju game? Wholesale destruction, and the feeling that you are in control of something huge and powerfu.
Dawn of the Monsters is the Kaiju beat 'em up we’ve been waiting for with the developers doing a grand job to create a unique experience whilst celebrating the genre. I would love to see some new characters and levels in the form of DLC or even some online PVP worked in there to ensure its longevity.
Dawn of the Monsters stumbles into some of the more common pitfalls of belt-scrolling fighters, but it has enough flair, polish and excitement to be a more than worthy offering, particularly played in couch co-op with a friend. We wish there were a few more playable creatures, but the ones on offer here are all very distinct and enormous fun to get to grips with. It's a richly rewarding game, with higher ranks unlocking new skins and upgrades from the in-game shop (don't worry, no microtransactions here) which offer an incentive to keep playing - though the real reason you'll stick with Dawn of the Monsters is that it is, quite simply, very good indeed. While it has a few problems, they're nothing that will stop you having a blast with this Brobdingnagian beat-'em-up.
Dawn of the Monsters should be on your list if you're looking for a great co-op kaiju beat 'em up. The beautiful artwork and range of different characters and abilities will have you changing up who you pick until you find the one that fits your play style. Boss battles are tough but manageable, but they will require you to customize your character with the different augments best suited to the fight. I've been playing solo and with my kids, who absolutely love playing as a giant beast, smashing through the landscape, and taking out the monsters. And frankly, who wouldn't love that?
A solid DLC with more content for a great beat 'em up
Dawn of the Monsters is a very good beat-'em-up made just a bit better because you finally get to be a towering creature that dishes out pain. The combat system is flashy yet deep, and the card upgrade system keeps things fresh as you try to find the perfect build for all four heroes. The campaign runs at a good length, with some reason to keep coming back for higher rankings. The game is fun even if you're going solo instead of co-op. Minor gripes with the game aside, beat-'em-up fans are going to enjoy having this title in their libraries.
If you’re a fan of kaiju or side-scrolling beat ’em ups, consider Dawn of the Monsters absolutely essential. You won’t find another game like it. Though even if you’re not typically a fan of those genres, you should still give it a go if you simply like to have fun; even more so the local co-op variety. Doing battle with giant beasts has never been as deep or enjoyable as this, especially with its DNA augment system that allows for a surprising amount of build variety. If this is the Dawn of the Monsters, we’re ready for the Day of the Monsters.
But that's a relatively minor complaint since each stage is so short. I'm also willing to forgive because 13AM Games has built a charming kaiju brawler that, while paying homage to the giants (ha!) of the genre, feels wholly unique. There's a lot of game here, and there are a lot of places they can take this franchise. DOTM is a fun time, and one I've greatly enjoyed.
When it comes to monstrous arcade action, few games are as fun as Dawn of the Monsters with its varied gameplay and tight controls.
Dawn of the Monsters is a really fun time, both in solo and especially in co-op, being a pretty good brawler that’s both a serviceable tribute to the Toku days and one with a decent amount of depth, with lots of great combos and augments to mess around with, and a fun combat system to keep stages interesting as you work towards those S+ Ranks.
Well damn, who knew that within a two week span I’d play two very different titles on Switch that have the beat-em-up genre deep within their DNA but are so completely different and are also both fantastic for their own reasons...
"Better than American Godzilla from 1998."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Dawn of the Monsters is a beat-em-up title that features massive beasts and robotic mechs taking out other ferocious monsters. As I piloted these behemoths, I explored various landscapes and worked to save human civilization. Did these immense creatures make the game massively fun? Or did it end up being a big flop? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Dawn of the Monsters is an absolute delight for anyone who enjoys kaiju or tokusatsu content.
Dawn of the Monsters offers excellent combat and a deep and interesting story. Do yourselves a favor and give this hidden gem a chance.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dawn of the Monsters successfully manages to reproduce the feeling of kaijus and big robot fights, but it doesn't add anything new to the genre's tropes, falling in a bit uninspired and repetitive gameplay.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dawn of the Monsters is an excellent Brawler that any kaiju fan can sink their teeth into.
Dawn of the Monsters is undeniably fun, even if it is a bit repetitive. The charm of the “Japanese comics” in motion is irresistible, overlapping the gameplay rhythm, which drags on at certain moments. And it's always nice to control a giant and powerful creature to beat up other monsters, creating our own movie in imagination.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It's nice to see when a studio steps out of its comfort zone and ventures into a new genre. Even better when the result is a fun title. Dawn of the Monsters fits this example well. Its graphic style, fully voiced dialogues and strategic gameplay are pleasing, making this first venture by 13AM Games in beat 'em ups a good experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review